Cloth-singeing device



April 7, 1925. 1,532,260

W. OSTH OFF CLOTH SINGEING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1April 7, 1925.

1,532,260 W. OSTHOFF CLOTH SINGEING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1921 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

WALTER careers; or seamen, GERMANY.

creams-remains nnvrcn.

Application filed August 26, 19231. Serial No. 495,557.

(GRANTED UNDnaTHE'rnovIsIons on THE Aer or reasons, 1921, 41 star/n,1213.)

T 0 (ZZZ whom 2'2? may 0012 cern Be it known that I, WALann-OsrHoFF, a

citizen of the German Empire, residing at- Barmen Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements .ll'l Cloth= Sing-sing Devices (torwhich Thave filed applicat ons in Germany; Fob. 12,1915, and- Myinvention refers to the singeingof fabric and more especially toaprocess and apparatus by which, the width of the gas flames can alwaysbe adapted to thdwidth of the fabric that is being singedat any time andthe intensity of the flame also can according to the nature of the beregulated fabric.

When singeing cloths which are less wide than the widthot the burners aconsiderable portion of the gas is wasted because the flames are toowide, and several arrangements have already been devised to overcomethis disadvantage. These devices have however been entirely mechanicalarrangemerits by which the'outer ends of the slit in th burner have beenshut off for a certain d ance towards the centre by means of slides andthe like. Cut-ting oil? portion of the slit in the burner involves awaste of time as there are tour'to six burners on one machine and eachburner must be adjusted Arrangements of this kind inrori e the furtherdisadvantage that burners at special construction are required, and itfurther diliicu'lt to fix the sliding plates i so tightly that a greaterloss of gas does parts of the burner not taho'place atthose \YlliCll arenot allght.

slit in the burner when combustion takes ace. in order to prevent thecombustible lllllrlll'c from burning at certanrdistance from the twoouter ends of each burner,

.ftccording to the present invention these ulties areovercome 1n asimple way by that portion of the slit whichis not .t and left, in orderto escape through compressed airiis admitted from'both sides and thusfills up the space int-he outer ends of the burner'so that thecombustible 'mixture which fiows right and "left from the centre canonly expandyover a certain distance. The combustible mixtureflwill theirescape through the centr'e portion of the" burner while compressed airescapes at each outer e'ndin proportions dependin'gon the adjustment oithe compressedair supply.

The i i u1e. compressed air supplied to the ways; p

- In the'drai my invention is illustrated by way of example; In thedrawlngs Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the device forcarrying out the novel proc'cess, i Fig. Fig.1,

Fig. 3 a longitudinal section otthe mixing and distributing apparatus onthe line 3-3 of Fi 5,

and

Referringto the drawings 1 1s a gas- 5 a cross-section'on the line 5-5of compressor and 2 an air-compressor, the latter supplying theairnecessary'both for tributing deviceti. The latter is fitted with ahand-wheel 6 for regulatingfthe 'com bustlble "nnxture which flowsthrough. a

main-conduit T to the burners. In tlie;eX-- ample lllustrated' there isshown only one of the burners 8 which isconnec ted with the conduit 7 bymeans of a branch "con duit The device 5 is also fitted with anotherhand-lever 10 "for regulating the air for damping. which flowsto theburners through a main conduit '11 and thence through separate branchcondults 12' The distributing conduit '12 for each burner leads into achannel 13 on the burner, and said channel is connected'by means of an'ulation of the combustible miX ial burnerscan be eitect'ed in various-"ings afiixed to this specifica-I tion and forming part thereof acombinedmixing and distributingvalve; embodying =2 is a section'on theline 2+2 of Fig. 4 a section on the line a l-ot Fig 45, v

aperture lat at each end with the chamber for the combustible "mixtureThe slit 15 which extends over the whole length of the burner forms theburneropening.

With this apparatus the novel process forming the primary obiect of thepresent invention takes place in the following manner:

The necessa y combustible mixture, consisting of a gaseous fuel andatmospheric air, is conducted through the mixture conduits- 9 to thechambers in the burners 8. The point of admission of the combustiblemixture is generally in the middle of the burner. so that thecombustible mixture flowing out of the conduit 9 must expand outwards inthe direction of the arrows 0 into the chamber of the burner 8 andthrough the slit 15 on top of the burner where combustion takes place.By a corresponding adjustment of the hand-wheel (l the combustiblemixture is admitted to the burner 8 in the quantity necessary forsingein g the material. As long as the compressed air conduit 11 is keptclosed by means of the lever 10. no conduction of compressed air to dampthe. flames takes place.

In this case all the flames on the burners which are connected up burnalong the whole width of the burner, so that the width of material thatcan be singed is as wide as the apparatus allows. If materials are to besinged which are narrower than the width of the singeing slit, then theattendant by turning the lever 10 allows compressed air to flow throughthe conduits 11 and 12 to the ends of the burners. The compressed airexpands in the direction of the arrows Z against both sides of thecolumns of combustible mixture which are in the burners with the resultthat the flames at the outer ends of the burners are uniformlyextinguished and withdraw from both sides towards the centre for adistance which depends on the setting; of the lever 10 so as tocorrespond with the narrower widthof the material to be singed.

In order that the aforesaid method of working may be as perfect and assimple as possible it is necessary that both the air compressor and thecompressor should be provided with exact pressureregulators, so thatboth the combustible mixture and the compressed air necessary to dampthe flames are always supplied to the burners under the same pressure.When in operation therefore an alteration in the temperature or width ofthe flame cannot occur after the distributing apparatus has beenadjusted. If the process is to be employed in fabric singeingapparatuses in which two pieces of cloth are being fed in side by side,the arrangement can be such that the combustible mixture conduit 9 foreach burner is divided into two branches which are connectedinm'iediately to the right and left of the centre of the burner and ofwhich either or both can be shut off or varied, so that the combustiblemixture is conducted to the burner through two conduits which lie closetogether and either half of the burner can burn separately or they can.both burn together as may be desired.

Should the case occur in which, when two pieces of fabric are beingsinged at the same time the quality of the materials differs (forexample a heavy fabric on the right ha d side of the machine and a light'abric on the lot) and each must consequently be operated upon with adifferent number of flames. it is then possible to operate on the righthand fabric with four flames and on the left with only two. In this casethe left hand branch conduit for the combustible mixture must be shutell on two of the burners by means of a special cook or tap. so thatonly the right hand half of these two burners is supplied with thecombustible mixture. At the same time, the pressure of the air whichserves to damp the flames of the two burners which are only alightacross half their width must be adjusted to be so great that the spacein. the burners which. while singeing the lighter fabric cannot becharged with combustible mixture, is tilled with compressed air.

In order to obtain a correct flow and distribution of gas in the burnersspecial stops or guide plates may in some cases be provided.

The distribution apparatus so eon structed that by turning thehand-wheel 6. in order to regulate the width of the flames. theproportions of combustible mixture and compressed air for damping; theflames are so altered that the total supply and therefore the intensityof the flames remains un changed Conversely by turning: the handle 10the total supply and therefore the intensity of the flames can beregulated independently of the width to which the flames have beenadjusted at any time.

The preferred construction of the distributing apparatus 5 is shown inFi s. It consists of a casing in which a cylindrical sleeve 1. is fixed.Two pistons 18 and .9 are movable in the cylinder 17 and are con nectcdtogether by means of the bolt .20 so that while each can rotateindependently about its longitudinal axis they can he moved together upand down (i. e. bachwards and forwards) in the cylinder 1? by means ofthe connecting rod 21. which is attached to the link with which the boltis provided, and the crank or eccentric 22 which is connected to thehand-wheel 6. The piston 18 can be rotated (i. e. displaced s'deways)independently of the piston 19 by means ofen eccentric b01523 ultielwcne'tw'es in a longitudinal groore in said piston, and

the piston 19 canbe rotated independently ot the piston 18 hud theboltfiO by means of the lever 10 W1 'elris'l'itted-to the n'1e1n ber 13% provided with atp1n-25 whlchcngages 111 :1 longitudinal"groove nr-thepiston '19.

The compressed L air conduit, from which in the example illust"ated-both the zur necessery for the "production of the combustiblemixture us; welt us that for dumping'the fiun' es is delivered, isconnected to the flanged openmg-261 The CODClUlt font-he compressed forthe production of" the comb .stible' nu ture 1s connec'edflanged opening21 end the "distrrbuti 11L; nduit WlllCll feeds the combustible mixtureto to the the burners to the flanged openhigQS; The

compresed sir for. damping the tleme fiows into the distributingconduit-thnough'the flun 'ed opening QQ;

()ppositethe openi-ng 26 lllldSlGQVQ" 1'? has two rectanguleropenings-30 midi-31 :torthe passage of thecompres ldair tor the pro:duction of the con'il'iusti-l-ile mixture and the compressed air for:damping the; flames spcctively: Opposite the* opening 27 :the crlinder17 is providedwitlre port32- tor the compressed gas; The arcw o lthe'ports 30 and regulated by meens'of the piston v end that of the port81 by ineens of the piston 19, the wells of said pistons 18 end '10being providedwithcorresponding sperturcs;

In the drawings the epnznratus is shown in the position in which theopenings ill-end 9,2 for the e'chnission ot'the; airandgssthe'pro'duction ot the combustible mi) ure'clo'sedf completely wh'er'easthe opening:

for the edmissiou of"compressedeir tor dumping the flames is fully open:By moving: t z-uidle lfi the opening Bl for the conmre d till can;:rlso'be eompletely closed,

so that in this-position oi. thenpperntus neither the coinlmstiblen'nXturc, nor" the compressed air can reecln the burners;

'inc apparatus is manipulated in the tol- The lever 10 is so adjustedthetthe pmt 1 for the compressedmir t'or damping the; n in the drewingwith the pistons :18 and 1.9 it the topof their stroke both the openingsSOs-11d 2'32 for the adn'iisston of the strand. gas tor theproductioirct thcfcon'n is completely closed; In the positionverylicrcefiame ofe partieulmWidth.

the comprcssed eir and to" the eompressed gas are accordingly opened,end the coin' bustible- 'Vure flowsthrou 'l. the ll-en opening-2e intothc distribiu xconduit r thence to the-burners. 1 t ll lnnner therc isfii st -fenr d e smell fian'ie r-vhieh extends along its whole lengthsud becomes con-- tin-nail ;larger as tlie portS'Z-KO end 32 ereopenedfurther by turning the llt'tHEl-WllGQl and thus moving the'p stone 1Sand 19 which are ionneeted to it until satin ports are liullj openWl1t11-i'l16 pistons have made it complete stroke and have reached tieirlowest position; whereupon a very fierce flmne burns elongthe Wholelength of the burner. If however the f "res are not recompressed air fordumpi'ngtie fiemeis 10 so thatthe piston 1h eoinits air to the conduit81'until the Width of the 'tlejn'ic has been reducedso as to eorres iondwith the Width of the material tobc sin Let us su pose nor: fore VJhezivy nmterml is to be operated i tt', first the positionbt thepistons' shown in therdrawing, but the lever 10 is so ad justed that-thesir conduit 32-1501 supplying; the eompressed'ainfor dumping the flamesis fully open; hen thus adjusted the. necessary amount of compressed airfor dan'rpiugr the flames which when using" the fiercest flame, would berequiredentirely to repress the combustible mixture is supplied to theburners. It noiv by turning the hand-Wheel 6 the pistons 18 and 19moped"downwards; the air port and the gesportr32 hregreduelly opened andthe air port 31 for regu'leting the supply of compressed'ra irfondamping'the flames is simultaneously gredualhy: closed. Assun'i ingthnt the aforesaid apparatus is constructed tor a burnerwidthot 3metres, and u 1 mm. opening of the air and gas ports 30 and 32 willproduee an intense flame about 100 ninnin Width in the middle of theburneix. On opening the ports 30 end 32 Wider and-st the same timeclosing the airport (by turning the hend-wheel 6) the intense flamesspreads: continmilly outwards from the -iniddle: in accordance with theadjustment otthe gas and air supply; The intensity of the flame howeveralways remains uniform"and is independent of its Width. Incorrespondence With the resulting increase in the supply of combustiblemixture the supply of compressedair for dumpingthe' flame isproportionately de creased. If during; this procedure the in tensity ofthe :flames is alsoto be altered it is-necessery' to adjust the portSIby means of the hendlefl'lt) until the desired intensity has beenattained. If a particular intensity of flame has in this Way been so aobtained for a pirticular material it remains constant however much thewidth 01" the flames having this partieula intensity are altered bymeans of the hand-wheel 6. By reason of this method of working the veryimportant advantage is attained that when once the intensity or singeingetl'ectof the flames has been adjusted so to be constant at a desireddegree the width of the iames can be altered at will.

Instead of the foregoing construction in which the flames are controlledby means of the ports 30 and 32 and the piston 18, the apparatus canalso be constructed in such a way that the combustible mixture suppliedthrough the flanged opening 27 and the port 32. In this case the airport 30 is not provided in the ylinder 1?. In this form of constructionof the apparatus the method of working remains unchanged.

it is important that the supply of combustible mixure as well citcon'ipiessed air for damping the flames should be regulated by means anadjusting ipparatus or valve, that when once adjusted the total sipplyremains constant no matter wnet-her, in rder to obtain a narrower flame,smaller amount of combustible mixture and a greater amount of compressedair is fed to the burners or whether other :ariations in the proportionsare in rolved. Independently of this the total supply must be capable otbeing adjusted to any desired extent. By means of the aforesaidappa'atus all these requirements may be easily satisfied.

I claim:

1. The described method of controlling the lateral extent of asheet-flame, which comprises causing a non-intlanmable pressure gas tocrowdingly act in lateral direction upon the flame at its base.

2. The described method of controlling the lateral extent of asheet-flame, which comprises causing a non-inflannnable pressure gas tocompressingly act simultaneously on both narrow edges of the sheetllameat the zone of its inception.

8. The described meth d of controlling the lateral extent oi apressure-gas sheetilame, which comprises causing jets o'tnoninflan'nnable pressure gas to crowdingly im pinge simultaneously uponthe base ot both narrow edges o1 said flame, tor hrottling the latterbetween said jets as to its lateral extent, and correlating the pressureof said jets to that of the i'lame :tuel.

4-. In a device ot the type set forth, in combination, a burnerpresenting a relatively extended narrow flame slot and having a portintermediate its ends for the admission of a combustible pressure gasand means spaced laterally from said fuel port intermediate its ends foradn'iittinsr a1 tlainnable gaseous pressure medium and a port near eachend for admitting a non-inflammable gaeous pressure medium.

6. ln a device of the type set forth, in combination, a burnerpresenting an elongatet narrow flame slot and having a port '1termediate its ends for admitting an inable pressure-gas and a port neareach itting a non-inflaminaole pressure gas, and means for'nterdependently controlling the supply of the pressure to the severalsaid port 7. in a device of the type set forth, in combination, aburnerpresenting an elonted narrow flame slot and having a centralcombustible pressure-gas port and a nressuieair port at both ends, a gasand controlling device, comprising a ported casing, two axiallysuperimposed cylindrical ported valve slides in said casing, means forjointly axially reciprocating said ported slides, and means for rotatingthem independertly of one another.

8. In a device of the type set forth. in combination, a burnerpresenting an elongated narrow flame slot and having sepa rate-pressuregas and pressure-air ports, a gas and air controlling valve,respectively c =ting a pressure-air intake, a pressure- 'as intake, apressure-air outlet, and a gas .nd air mixture outlet, conduitsrespectively connecting said pressure-air outlet to said air ports inthe burner and said mixture outlet to said gas port, a. fixed portedcylin drical seat in said valve, two axially superimp ed cylindricalported valve slides in swivel connection cooperating with said firedseat, the one cylindrical slide intended to control the flow of pressuremixture, and the other the flow of pressin'e air and both said slideshaving a longitudiinil slot, means for jointly axially reciprocatingsaid two cyq vithiu their seat, comprising lindrical sli a hand-wheeland link connection acting on the mixture-controlling valve slide, aneccentric in coaetion with said longitudinal slot in theminture-controlling slide for rotating he latter, and handlevcr meanscoaeting with the said longitudinal sic; in the air-controlling valveslide for rotating the latter, each valve slide being operable in rotaryse se in )end ntly oi the other, but both she es alv ay jointlyreciprocable in axial direction.

in testimony whereof I al'z; my signature.

YVALTER OSTHOFF.

